After graduation, if you have applied for and/or been approved for OPT, you may want to travel. By applying for OPT, you have effectively extended your F-1 status to the end of your OPT period. Keep in mind that you are still in F-1 status during this time, so you will need to adhere to F-1 regulations for entry.
When traveling on OPT, always bring the following documents:
- Passport - Valid for 6 months beyond entry date.
- F-1 Visa - If your visa has expired, you must renew it before re-entering the U.S. Many consulates will want to see your OPT Approval (or EAD) and evidence of a job in order to renew an F-1 entry visa. Keep in mind that your F-1 visa may be in an old passport!
- OPT I-20 - Your OPT I-20 has your OPT recommendation written on page 2. If your I-20 still reads “Pending” and you’ve been approved, we are happy to print and mail you a new updated I-20 with your current employer. Travel signatures last for 6 months on OPT, so check your latest signature before you leave the U.S.
- Employment Authorization Document (EAD) - highly recommended - Though your EAD is not technically required for U.S. entry, most CBP officers will ask to see it. If you do not have your EAD, we recommend carrying whatever documentation you can to show the status of your OPT application (e.g. Case receipt, Approval Notice).
- Letter of Employment and/or Paystubs - highly recommended - Being employed is not a requirement of OPT, since you are allowed up to 90 days of unemployment during your year of authorization. However, if you do have employment, ISSO recommends carrying proof of that employment when entering the U.S., just in case.
If you have a pending Post-Completion OPT application and you have graduated, we do not recommend traveling internationally until your case has been approved. Though it’s not breaking any rules, it can create more questions at the border and cause travel delays, particularly if you have an expired F-1 entry visa and will need to renew it before re-entry.
Once you have started working, if you wish to travel outside the United States, the ISSO will endorse your I-20. Each travel signature will last for 6 months on OPT, not the standard 12 months. Please send your most recent Smith I-20 to our office for endorsement, or contact us via email for an updated I-20. We will sign and mail the I-20 to you for travel. Remember, you are still under your Smith College F-1 visa during your OPT.